Lando Norris has been told by team-mate Oscar Piastri that he will receive no help to beat Formula 1 title rival Max Verstappen at the Qatar Grand Prix this weekend. And team principal Andrea Stella ruled out asking the Aussie to do so, saying there is “no reason” to prioritise Norris, 26 yet.
The Brit leads the championship, 24 points ahead of both Piastri and Verstappen and can seal the title by scoring two or more points than both in Lusail. But while Piastri is still in the hunt, the 24-year-old is not willing to give up his title chance to see off the threat posed by their Dutch rival.
He said: “We have had a very brief discussion on it and the answer is, ‘No’. I am still equal on points with Max and I have got a decent shot of still winning it if things go my way. That is how we will play it.”
Stella has hinted that Piastri will be asked to play the team game at the season finale in Abu Dhabi if he is eliminated from contention this weekend and Verstappen remains a threat to Norris. But, for now, the Italian is unwilling to change his stance on letting his drivers race.
He said: “As long as the maths does not say otherwise, we will leave it up to the two drivers to fight for their chance at the final victory. We are going to fight for the double world championship with confidence and awareness of our strength.”
As for Verstappen, the Red Bull driver is glad McLaren are not focusing on Norris, and not just because doing so would make his unlikely comeback that much harder. He said: “Why would you suddenly now say that Oscar would not be allowed [to race Norris] anymore?
“If that was said to me, I would not have rocked up, I would have told them to eff off. I am equal on points with Oscar and a lot still needs to go right, but I think it should be like that, that they are free to race. Hopefully, we can make it a great battle until the end.”
While Piastri still has title ambitions, he faces a challenge just to finish second in the championship ahead of Verstappen. He was 104 points ahead of the Red Bull driver after winning the Dutch Grand Prix at the end of August but that entire advantage has been eradicated, which has come as a surprise to the Australian.
He said: “It has been overturned quicker than I thought. Obviously, I have lost 50 of those points from two races, in a DNF [in Azerbaijan] and a disqualification. But, obviously, a lot of things outside of that have been tough in the second part of the year. Red Bull and Max have clearly found some pace.
“I think a lot of things have unfolded differently to how I had hoped or how I expected in the second half of the year, but there is nothing I can do to change that now so I am just trying to focus on how I can finish the year on a high.”